Rodent trap



April 8, 1952 J. T. BRUBAKER RODENT TRAP 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1946 F/B.Z.

April 8, 1952 J, BRUBAKER 2,592,388

RODENT TRAP Filed Aug. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 W0 MIX/O11, JOHNTBPuaA/fE/Q April 8, 1952 J. T. BRUBAKER 2,592,388

RODENT TRAP Filed Aug. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 HHIHIIELI Ap 8, 1952 J. T. BRUBAKER 2,592,388

RODENT TRAP Filed Aug. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 Wu M00 J HN T. Bevan KE/a A ril 8, 1952 J. 'r. BRUBAKER RODENT TRAP 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 21, 1946 e v n i V,

Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This inventionrelatesto a rodenttrap, especially adapted for expeditious manufacture in various sizes to catch rats, mic and the like.

It is-primarily aimed to provide an exceedingly-simple construction in -a minimum number of parts-capable of rapid and expeditious manufacture and assembly at minimum cost.

A prime object is to provide in such a trap, a base formed or struck from one or more pieces of metal which is movable resiliently practically as a whole or as a bait holder or other part to release the strike mechanism.

Another object is to provide a trap wherein all partsexcept the strike and its actuating and latchingmechanism may be in a single unit, preferably stamped from sheet metal.

Still another object is to provide a construction greatly facilitating expeditious assembly by employing a stamped metal base and retaining cleats for the strike and/or actuating mechanism, beneath which the latter is slipped before bending orclamping thereabout.

One moreobject is to provide a rigidretainingv means on the base, bait holder or equivalent for retaining the trip orlatch rod in set'position.

A further object is to provide a construction wherein the trap will be set merely by swinging the smiter or strike against the tension of its actuating spring past the latch rod for such smiter or striker.

Further objects are to provide means enabling the rodent'to spring the trap without walking on the base, a trap having a base with a cut out portion to enable bait to be placed on the fioor and necessitate the rodent extending its nose into a novel restricted space preferably having a surrounding wall, to release the latch and striker; a-construction permitting travel of the rodent directly on the floor into trap-tripping position; aconstruction wherein means is provided to laterally displace a tripped latch rod; a construction wherein the latch rod may have a projection to engage a fixed part on the base or equivalent when set; aconstruction wherein the latch rod may be set by engagement with a fixed post on the base or other part and also by engagement by a lug on the latch rod with said base or other part; a construction in which the latch rod isformed integral with the base, for instance, specifically with the bait holder; and a construction wherein the latch rod is slidably mounted on the base to maintainthe striker set and which is releasable through movement or flexing of the bait holder or equivalent under the weight of the rodent;

Various additional objects and advantages will in part be pointed out and otherwise become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a number of operative embodiments.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of trap, the parts being shown in set position in full lines and the smiter or striker being suggested in dotted lines in sprung position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of trap;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a third form of trap;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line 99 of Fig.7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fourth modified form;

Fig. 11'is a plan view of a fifth modified form;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section taken on the line I2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a sixth modified form;

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section taken on the line I4--l4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a cross-section taken on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a seventh modified form;

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of an eighth modified form;

Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section taken on line iii-4913f Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of a ninth modified form;

Fig. 21 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2 i--2 I of Fig. 20, and

Fig. 22 is afragmentary perspective view of a modified form of slidable latch rod of the general type employed in Figs. 20 and 21.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the difierent views, and first to the form of Figs. 1 to 3, H3 designates a base which ispreferably stamped in a single piece of 55 generally fiat resilientmetal and preferabiyprovided with depressions II or the equivalent as at the corners thereof, to elevate the lower surface of the base proper from the floor or other support. An actuating spring device for the smiting or striking parts is shown at I2 and may consist of coil springs I3 which are secured to the base I in any suitable manner as by means of cleats or bearings I4 integral with the base. Such cleats I4 are formed by making U-shaped slits I5 in the base at the ends nearest wall 22 and striking up the material of the base thereat. The said struck up material is then bent so that the coils I3 may be expeditiously slid or positioned thereunder, following which the cleats are bent to final position as shown in the drawings so as to clamp against the coil springs I3. Such a construction enables expeditious insertion of springs I3 under the cleats, followed by clamping in modern, fast operating machinery.

Said coil springs I3 are integral with or form part of smiter or striker generally designated I6. Such device consists of a single length of metallic wire having a smiting element I! in the form of a ring or otherwise, which wire is twisted together at I8, between the coil springs I3 and elements IT. The outer terminals or shaft means of the wire arms I9 extending from coil springs i3 and the tension of the latter is such as to snap and maintain lugs 26 on the arms in notches 21 formed in the upper edges of a vertical wall 22 integral with the base I6, extending across one end and partly along the sides thereof. It will be noted that the ends of the wall 22 are inclined at 23 so as to guide the lugs 20 upwardly along the same into the notches 2| as the coil springs are pushed in place beneath cleats I4. The tension of the coil springs I 3 urges swinging movement of the smiter or striker I6 from the dotted line position in Figure 1 to the full line position in the same figure and in Figure 2, wherein it engages the upper surface of the plate at the zone of baiting, about a bait holder 24.

Said bait holder 24 is provided by slitting the base II! at 25 and accordingly it is integral with the base and is resiliently connected thereto. A trip member in the form of a rod or latch 26 is loosely attached by an eyelet 21 in an opening 28 of the wall 22 and is engageable under a lip 29 of a post 30 rising rigidly from the bait holder 24, being integral therewith or initially separate, as preferred. By the contact of the smiting element I! in set position with the under surface of trip 26, the tension of coil springs I3 maintains the free end of trip 26 in engagement with lip 29 and the trap thus sensitively set. Upward movement of the free end of bait holder 24 is limited by contact with a lug 3I formed integral with the base In or otherwise.

The trap in use, is set as suggested by the dotted lines in Fig. l with bait disposed on the holder or element 24 and with such device I6 held in set position through the engagement of trip 26 with lip 29. The weight of a rodent treading on holder 24 will cause the same to lower or spring downwardly at its connection with the base It], thus moving lip 29 out of engagement with trip 26 whereupon the striker I6 is freed and under the action of coil springs I3, will move or spring from the dotted line position, displacing trip 26, to the full line position in Figs. 1 and 2, thus smiting or striking the rodent against base II].

If desired, I may provide a stud 32, struck from the base I0 or otherwise, having an inclined or cam surface engaging the trip 26 and functioning to deflect the latter laterally when released by the lip 29.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6, a metallic base is provided at 33 of resilient metal like the base ID, the same being generally inclined and having spring supporting leaves at 34 engaging the floor and which are formed by slitting the base along the lines 35. Integral with base 33 at its end adjacent to leaves 34 and formed by slitting the base is a resilient holder or trip 36 adjacent the latter and rigid when the base is a post 31 having a lip 38 forming a hook engaging a latch rod 39, similar to that shown at 26 in the first form, pivotally connected as at 40 to a wall 4I rising integrally from the base and extending across one end of the latter and partly along two sides thereof.

A transverse rod 42 is secured in portions of the Wall M as bearing, and mounts an actuating spring device 43 for a smiter or striker 44 pivoted on the rod 42 and forms a shaft means for such smiter or striker. Spring device 43 may have coil springs 45 through which said rod 42 passes, connected by a loop 46 hearing on the base and having terminal arms 41 which are in underlapping engagement with side arms 48 of the smiter 44 when set. Said spring device 46 is tensioned when the smiter 44 is in the set or dotted line position of Figure 4.

Suitable bait is placed on or adjacent the holder 36 and the base at the adjacent end is adapted to spring or lower under the weight 01: a rodent, straightening the leaves 34 and moving the holder 36 which is normally slightly above the floor, into engagement with the floor, thereby releasing the latch rod 39 whereupon the tensioned spring device 46 moves the smiter 44 to smiting or full line position closely following the adjacent portion of the edge of the base. The latch road 39 is tripped as the holder 36 moves upwardly through contact with the floor because an upper cam surface 49 thereof displaces and moves the rod 39 laterally, thus releasing the smiter.

In the form of Figs. 7 to 9, a one-piece metallic base 56 is provided which is open at 5I so that a rodent may travel on the floor to reach the bait and spring the trap without treading on the base. Surrounding the opening 5I, base 50 has a vertical wall 52 mounting a transverse rod 53 on which a trip lever or bait holder 54 is pivoted. The spring device 55 in this form may be generally of U-shape, being made of a single length of wire to provide a smiter at 56 and a pair of spaced coil springs 51 from which terminals 58 lead and which rest on the base. The smiter is clamped to the base in the same manner as in Fig. 1 by means of integral cleats 59 engaging the coil springs 51, and formed by slitting the base at 66. Such coil springs are tensioned in the set or full line position of the smiter Figure 7 and in which position the smiter is held by a latch rod 6|, loosely pivoted at 62 to a vertical end wall 63 integral with the base. Said latch rod BI hooks beneath a lip 64 formed integral with the wall 52 and it is held in such position through the tension of the spring device 55 and engagement of the smiter 56 with the under surface of the latch rod. In said set position as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, latch rod 6! is engaged by the upper inclined surface 65 of the holder or trip lever 54.

It will be particularly noted that a slight space only is left between the margin of the bait holder or trip lever 54 and the wall 52, thus necessitating :the :rodent 2 entering 3 its 511086 :into: said space inanendeavor-to:obtain thebait=locatedcn the: floor; adjacent the holder. 54; and thusfofiering-g little possibility;v oft movement .ofsthe rodent ads jacentto the: holder. 54- without springing, the trap :by laterally; displacing thedatch rod :6 I '1 and; releasing. the smiter 56 whichswings upwardly andsagainstzthebaseat the endxof the v-lattershaving; a wall: 52;. through the action of tension springs-251.

InFigurerlO; IIhaveshoWn another form of thevbaitholder 54; here --designated .66, modified: in' that-itsiszpivotednby means of trunnions '5'! to lugs=68,-struch up from a metallic base=fi9,lotherwise similar to-thatatfiildvith respect to having Walltiiv and ioosely mounting; a latch rod 61, and having cleats 59 positioning a spring device likee55afor thesame action asinF'igurefl. The latch rod 10, in this instance; which is theequivalentloflthatat SI; in iieu ofengaging alip 54 on wall 52'engages beneath a lip "I I on a post I2 similiar to element-37 (Figs. 4-to 6) struck from employed in the form of Figs. 4 tot since it has coil springs. I8 clamped in place by cleats 7-19 .on thebasefi?.formedrslitssat iii]. Thecentral 1101'? tion 61 of. the springdevicefli ,bears against other base "IB -andarms Miofsuch devicetinthe set:

position of the trap engage therunder surface ofthe'smiter '35.

Said smiterisheldset by a latch rod 83 pivotedi loosely at 84'to the,wallUM-andihaving-a lugor hook 35 which is engageable beneath a-lip 861 formed on a vertical wall 81 struck. unfromthe. base-13 about anopening 88 therein. The spring. devices 'I'Iris. tensioned in the set positionlandn such tension through. contact of the smitert'ifi.

with latch 83maintainsth'e hook-l 85I iirengages ment With thelip Standthetrapthus set; Latch rod 83 at 89-projects into the space surrounded by wall in and'henceta restricted space is-prvided as in the case'of thezform of Figures? to 9 requiring the rodent to enter. its-nosexbetween the fioor in the space 88 in an :endeavorto reach 1 bait placed 'on' therlatter adjacent the portion? 39, so as to displaceethe latch rod hy disengaging-hook 85 fromthe -liptt, and permitting the tensioned'spring to :swing-the-smiter I against the base' EB in the vicinity of the wall 81 In the form shown in Figure l3' to a resilient-metallic base'QG is providedwhiclr is raised at a point-intermediate its'ends' andthere weak ened orrendered more resilient-through the:provision of slots 9|, so as torte-ndtolo-werltoward a flattened positionlunderthe weight of a. rodent.

In lieu of the slots v9 I, ,the ;plate or. base 90: may resilient: throughout ,or: at the highest-point; asvzby de-- The .smiter .92 is identical with that at i5 and the spring device 93 is -identibe otherwise, rendered sufiiciently,

creasing its-thickness;-

cal with that at TI and is .held in placezina similar manner by-cleats,i taidentical with: those-at I9. The'action of the smiter92 and spring device-- 93 is similar I tothOse: atv T5 and 171, respectively,

andthe2smiter and.spring; are held in;setvposiv.--

The actuating springdevice TI for-the smiter IS-is generally-like that 1 partly along its sides,

6 tion by,means: of vas trip rod I95:- loosely pivoted-at 96 'toa Wall '91 on base similar-'torwall I4.

Said trip rod is adapted'to be placed inset position beneath: alatch'lip 98 formed on an integralvlug;99 onzthe'base and whichmay-form part of a; short upright tube I 00, integral'with suchbaseiand adjacent which :bait ma bespread;

verticallyslidabler to a limited extent in the short tube-or sleeve IIJU is-a latch or trip member IIH: having. a conical head I02 which overlaps and rests on the-upper end of shorttube I99 and bears-against the latch rod 95. The lowerend of tripN-IOI is widened or'spread at I03 to preventdetachment from the tube I00. Trip IUB'GOQS not normally touch thee-floor or support for the basetIBIJ; but under the weight of a rodent, base sflrmovesxdownwardlyi and flattens somewhat,

moving 'latchwor trip IflI into engagement with the fioor and causing-head I 02430 laterally dis"- lodge-the free-endqof latch rod 95 from beneath" the dip; 98: Whereuponthe smiter 92 swings into engagementtwiththe-opposite end of the base to catch the rodent'underaction of the spring device 93-. 'asin theform of Figures 11 and -12.

Comingnowto the form" disclosed in Figures lfiiand l'i'f a 'resilent'metallic base is provided at Ill4 which is "slit-:at J95 to provide a bait holder or trip lIlfi-zinh'erently urged into the set position of 'Figures 16 and 17, it being :realizedthat the 1 bait holder flllfiah'as'a relatively' long strap In"; so

thatith'e necessary resilient action" is 'aiTorded-"for the -holder1or :trip -I 06:

Likijinithe form:of"Figure-:11; base iM'jhas an integral: vertical wall I08 across 5 one end" and I09: which'ipassestthrough' coils IIfi'of a sprin device I I I like that employed at 11, and clamped tioning irrzthe. same manner as in Figure 1, for

example: A sm-iter I IBI'generalIy of U -shape has its'terminals pivoted to the rod Hi9 and spring device I II has arms ilkcoactingwith side arms o-f-"thesmiterfill3 in thesame manner as 82 'coact with smiter 15';

The latch rodl I5 -=i1r this form is loosely connectedat llfi to wall ltla so as to have a slight longitudinalas well as pivotal movement. The free end" of rod' I I5" engages beneath a lip III formed integrally" with the holder I05, being struck' therefrom, for example. In addition, to render *thetrapsensitive at'morethan one location, when-set; latchrodII5 has a hook at 558 beneath which the smiter H3 engages as su gested-by the dotted lines in Figure 17. Rod H5 is' held in" set position by the coaction of the spring dvice I II and "smiter H3 therewith, like the-spring device-IT and smiter 15 in Figure 11. It will benoted thatsmiter I 13' in set position is engaged beneath'th'e hoolr'I I8 and it is moved tc'-that' "position simply by depressing it as the rod' I I 5 will have slight "longitudinal movement and automaticspring-returned action due to the resilience ot the parts; particularly the holder I06 This produces a double and very sensitive setting as-thetrap' will be sprung if either trip I065 smiter 'l I3 or latch II5, at'practically any locationis touched by a rodent.

Referring now 'to FigureslS and 19, the base I I9 c0rrespondsin material and action to that of Figuresidand l7, differing therefrom as to the shape of aholder'ortrip I26 formed and iunc tioning like that at HIS. Insteadof having a separate rod|l5- a latch rod I2? is formed integralZ-vvithth-ebase Hil -preferably extending directlyi from'tand: forming part of. the-holder 20,

Siich wall :mounts a rod the latter being slit along a line I22 to form the rod I2I and then bending the latter 180 to the position shown. The smiter I23, spring device I24, rod I25 and cleats I26, are similar in structure and function to the corresponding parts at II3, III, I09 and H2, respectively, in Figure 16. Rod I25 is mounted in vertical walls I21 integral with and rising from the base II9. A lug I2I depends from rod I2I and terminates short of the base H9 so that when smiter I23 depresses the free end of rod I2l, lug I2I contacts the base H9 and arrests depression of the rod to offer the necessary resistance for the smiter to displace the rod and move beneath it.

In setting the trap of the last mentioned form of Figs. 18 and 19, the smiter I23 is moved from the full line position on the axis I 25, to the extent of 180, rod I2I being in its path and contacted thereby and depressed slightly and moved to the left against the tension of the spring action of trip I22, following which the thus tensioned trip I29 restores the rod I2I to the right and across the smiter I23 setting the trap.

Figures 20 and 21 illustrate a further form wherein I30 designates a resilient sheet metal base as in the preceding forms, slit at I3I and sprung to form a trip or bait holder I32 of suitable shape corresponding to that at I06. A striker I 33 is pivoted to a rod I34, like rod I 25, mounted in integral vertical side walls I35 of the base. Said rod I34 passes through coil springs I35 of a striker-actuating spring device I31 like that at III and I24. Said coil springs are clamped to the base by cleats I38 integral with the latter like cleats I25.

The striker latch rod is here designated I39 and is longitudinally slidable in guides I40 and MI struck up from the base or otherwise formed. A lug I42 rises from trip or bait holder I32 and is interengaged in a notch I 43 of slidable latch rod I39. Said trip or bait holder I32 inherently springs upwardly to the position of Figure 21 but latch rod I39 is held against upward movement as it is overlapped by a hook I42 on guide I40, and passes through an opening I43 in guide I4I. Such inherent resilience of the trip I32 also slightly slides the latch rod I39 to the right but such movement is limited by abutment of a stop I44 on the latch rod with guide MI. The trap is set merely by swinging the striker or smiter I33 from the full line to the dotted line position in Figure 20 in which movement, a hook I45 on latch rod I 39 in the path of the striker is engaged by it and moves slightly to the left against the tension of trip I32, after which the striker under urgency of said trip is moved to the right so that hook I45 overlaps and sets the striker or smiter.

The trap is operated by the trip I32 being depressed by the weight of a rodent thereon, the depression sliding latch rod I39 to the left and at the hook releasing the smiter I 33 which is moved to the smiting or full line position of Figures 20 and 21 by spring device I31.

In Figure 22 is shown a modified form of slidable latch rod which functions identically with that at I39. Rod I46 of this form has a notch I4! to serve like that at I43 and is positioned by guides I48 and I49 integral with and rising from the base I50. Guide I48 has an opening through which the latch rod slides while guide I49 has a lip II overhanging the latch rod in a notch I52 thereof providing an abutment or stop shoulder at I53 functioning identically like the stop I44. The striker I'54 which is identical with striker I33 is depressed against the cam-shaped outer end I of the latch I48, like the corresponding ends of parts II8, I2I and I45, moving the rod I46 to the left against the tension of the spring-trip such as I32 following which such tensioned trip slides the latch rod to the right to the extent limited by stop I53 where it overlaps striker or smiter I54 and sets the trap.

Attention is called to the fact that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it being clear that in many instances parts from various forms may be substituted or interchanged with respect to parts of other forms. It is especially to be noted that the angle, shape, or disposition of trips, bait holders or the like, such as 24, 54, edge of the latter, 66, edge 65 of the latter, 36, leaves 34, part 89, camber base 90, I06, I20 and I32, may be disposed or operate at any desired angle with respect to the horizontal or vertical or otherwise, and that such parts as well as others may be of any desired size or configuration. In many instances, too, parts may be interchanged or reversed as to their support on relatively fixed and relatively movable ones such as by placing 30 and II! on the bases I0 and I04, respectively, rather than on the trips, and by placing cam 32 on trip 24.

What is claimed is:

1. A rodent trap comprising a base having a portion thereof that is resilient and capable of being displaced relative to other portions of the base, means extending upward from the base and constituting bearings, a transverse member positioned in said bearings and provided with spring means at the ends thereof, a striker member actuated by said spring means to move it from a set to a release position, a trip member pivoted on the base for swinging movement between the sides of the striker member and adapted to engage a portion of the latter to hold it in set position, latch means secured to the base adapted to hold the trip member in set position, said latch means having portions thereof constituting a camming surface adapted to engage the trip member, said resilient portion of the base when depressed by a rodent being adapted to move a portion of the latch means and cause a release of the trip member to permit the spring means to move the striker to striking position.

2. A rodent trap according to claim 1 wherein said portion of the base capable of being displaced is a bait holder, and said latch means includes a post on said bait holder, and a stud on the base provided with said camming surface.

3. A rodent trap according to claim 1 wherein said portion of the base capable of being disposed is a bait holder integral with the base, said latch means includes a post on said bait holder, and a stud on the base provided with said camming surface, and said striker includes a ring disposed to surround said bait holder in the released position of said striker.

4. A rodent trap according to claim 1 wherein said base has leaf means to elevate one end of the base from the floor so that a portion of the base may be depressed, said latch means includes a hook on the last-mentioned portion, and a holder trip on the last-mentioned portion having a camming surface at its upper end to engage the trip member.

5. A rodent trap having a generally arched resilient base member adapted to be positioned on a floor and to flatten under the weight of a rodent, a smiter having shaft means disposed across said base and journalled in said base,

spaced-apart cleats struck up from and integral with said base, actuating spring means for said smiter having sections of coils disposed on said shaft means and overlapped from above by said cleats, a latch rod pivoted to the base to restrain the smiter, a sleeve rising from the base and having a hook beneath which the latch rod is engageable to hold the smiter in set position, a slidable trip carried by said sleeve, said trip being disposed normally above the floor level and adapted for actuation through contact with the floor as the base flattens under weight of a rodent.

6. A rodent trap having a generally arched resilient base member adapted to be positioned on a floor to flatten under the weight of a rodent, a striker and actuating means therefor carried by the base, a trip rod pivoted to the base to restrain the striker, a sleeve rising from the base and JOHN T. BRUBAKER.

REFERENQES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Name Date 744,343 Hooker Nov. 17, 1903 1,429,189 Chasse Sept. 13, 1922 1,496,181 Sowinski June 3, 1924 

